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FSU wants to stay in West Palm Beach, but school president has final say

Florida State University trustees said today they want the school’s digital arts program to remain in West Palm Beach, but said the decision is ultimately up to university President Eric Barron.

It’s unclear what kind of timeline Barron is working on to make his decision, but the Board of Governors is meeting next week and will also discuss the Tallahassee school’s presence in West Palm Beach.

West Palm Beach gave Digital Domain $2 million to set up shop in West Palm Beach. The money passed through to FSU to help develop the program.

While city officials have hoped the school will stay in West Palm Beach, Board of Governors members continue to question the move, which ignited a turf battle with Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

In a bid to keep the school in West Palm Beach, city commissioners promised another $200,000 last month if FSU will at least stay through August.

FSU Provost Garnett Stokes said it will cost the school $16 million over ten years to move the program back to Tallahassee because the number of students would have to be reduces.

It would also cost $3 million to move faculty, equipment and remodel facilities to accommodate the program.

Stokes said four companies have expressed interest in partnering with FSU in West Palm Beach, but won’t go to Tallahassee.

“It is important to realize that Digital Domain was never intended to be the only partner that FSU had in West Palm Beach,” Stokes said. “They were merely the first and founding partner.”

This week, FAU President Mary Jane Saunders said she had not been told of FSU’s decision on whether to stay in West Palm Beach. She said she offered the school classroom space on her campus if it couldn’t afford to stay in downtown, but did not get a response.

“The question would be what is best for the students of FSU and the state of Florida,” Saunders said. “A branch campus 400 miles away from FSU will be difficult to operate well. We want to support what is in the best interests of students.”